Caroline Garcia has been crowned the champion in Fort Worth. The French athlete secured the WTA Finals title by defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in a straight-sets victory, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. Following her run to the 2022 U.S. Open semifinals, this win represents a peak in Garcia's career. Her rise in the standings is particularly impressive, jumping from outside the top 70 in June to the world's 4th spot. Additionally, she becomes the first Frenchwoman to lift the WTA trophy since Amelie Mauresmo's achievement in 2005.
At 29 years old, Garcia is the oldest woman to win a WTA title since Serena Williams did so back in 2014. The final was a grueling one-hour and 40-minute encounter where both players displayed exceptional skill. During the first set, the level of play was so clinical that neither player managed to break the other's serve.
With the first set tied at 5-5, the match headed into a tiebreaker. Garcia initially found herself under pressure, trailing the Belarusian star by two points. However, she recovered brilliantly, sweeping six consecutive points to flip the script and win the tiebreaker 7-4.
The second set started differently, with Garcia immediately breaking Sabalenka's serve in the very first game. While the rest of the set remained competitive, the match ended when Sabalenka hit a backhand out of bounds on championship point, handing the title to the French star.
Despite her strong form toward the end of the season, Garcia wasn't an early favorite for the tournament. Nevertheless, she proved everyone wrong by being the last player standing. Along with the prestige of the title, she earned a prize of $1.57 million and 1,375 ranking points, significantly boosting her global standing.
Following the victory, Garcia described the final as an incredibly intense experience where every point mattered. She credited her success to her mental toughness and her ability to stay focused on one game at a time, sharing her gratitude with those who supported her journey. Sabalenka, while disappointed, showed a sporting side, joking, 'I really hate you right now Caroline,' before praising the champion's performance.